Summer 2013 {Week 4}

 This week has consisted of mainly two things:  T-ball games and swimming.  

Oh, and Oliver and Brahm now do THIS a lot....
 

Now that the weather is HOT, we spend lots of time everyday swimming.  Good thing they like the water!  :-)

And T-Ball.  Oliver loves playing T-ball, and honestly, their team is really starting to put some great plays together!  It's so fun to watch them learn!

"Hey Lily, do you want to come sit in the dug-out with me?"

She loves being in there with him.

The fans.

On to Week 5!

Summer 2013 {Week 3}

This week was less busy than last (thankfully!) but we still managed to pack it full! 
  
Brahm started the week with a new haircut.  I was so NOT excited about buzzing his hair!  He had beautiful hair that laid well!!!!  But Joel and Mr. Buzzy got the job done, and and it looks great!  Brahm even sat perfectly still for the whole thing!

 

  

The kids did a bunch of exploring this week.  They packed backpacks, water bottles, purses, and Oliver even packed a large cardboard fold-out bed....then, off they went!  Attached at the hip with a bungee, they trekked all around the yard for hours.  And every time they'd leave, Lily would say, "There's adventure out there!" and give me a double-high-five!  (Word on the street is this came from their missions time at VBS...)

 

  

We found out this week that Brahm loves sweet corn....

 

...and the pool.  He climbs to the highest step on our little ladder and JUMPS in, often times going all the way under.  But in his little floatie, he just bounces right back up with a huge grin on his face!  But WOW, I can't take my eyes off of him!

 

Summer School.  The kids love working on school stuff, so most mornings we spend a few minutes on "school".  Even Brahm joined the fun this time!

 

Finally, the kids got the great idea Thursday to hold a garage sale.  They  gathered 10-15 items that they didn't want, priced them (anywhere from $2-15), and then stood behind the van hoping for customers.  When someone WOULD drive by, they'd blow their whistle and shake their money bag at them.  I should add here that we live on a cul-de-sac...so 2 people drove by.  :-)  

When business wasn't as good as they had hoped, it was a good chance for Joel to teach them basics of economics...he said, "You have to have stuff people want, have to have it priced right, and people have to know about your sale."  After considering his words, they went inside and brought out a toy marked "FREE" to lure the masses....

 

Things are never dull around here!

Summer 2013 {Week 2}

This week was Vacation Bible School at our church, and you'd think that would be enough going on....but actually, we also had T-ball and swimming lessons, too!  What a FUN, crazy week!  Thankfully, the kids are doing remarkably well, considering all of the busyness...

We'll start with the VBS pictures--since that took up our mornings.  The theme this year was "Unleash the Power of God", and so we got to be SUPERHEROES all week!  

Here they are with their friend, Anna, in their t-shirts...

In fact, as the week went on, I started finding a strange masked man in unlikely places around our house...including on top of Joel's truck.  

But thankfully that masked man was kind and gentle enough to rescue my crying baby....

The last night, we had a program, and both the kids got up on stage!  Lily and her friends, Mason and Luke, were inseparable this week, but I think that was because she insisted on holding both of their hands "so they were always by me". 

 

One day, we had a big rainstorm, so the kids went out to play in the puddles...

Oliver also had his first T-ball game this week.  He is loving it!  Joel is helping coach, so that makes it even more fun.  

 Lily decided to get in on the dugout-action at one point....

In the afternoons, after naptime, the kids watch an episode of Little House on the Prairie.  We have been reading the books for the last few months, and now it is so fun to see them get into the show so much, too!

We also have been going to swimming lessons this week.  Thankfully, they've been taking them with their friends, Taylor and Mason--so that makes it even MORE fun!

I'm thinking that after this week--are going to appreciate some down time for a while!  And we're excited to get into a more normal summer routine, too.  Yay for summer!

Summer 2013 {Week 1}

I am forcing myself to blog weekly this summer, to document the fun, and maybe not-so-fun, things that this summer brings.  It is wonderful to have all 3 kids at home each day, and here is my chance to remember it!

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Lily and Brahm decided to do dishes one day.  Lily loves to do these, and seriously--she is SUCH good help! I am so thankful for her servant heart!

Joel brought home two trailer-loads of sand to finish the pool pad he was building for our pool to set on.  It was quickly finished, and now--we have water!

Last weekend, the kids had a soft-serve stand for friends and neighbors.  They used one of our machines, set out toppings, and raised money for our local Vacation Bible School program next week.  The money is going towards a Proclaimer--an electronic device that will read the Bible in the language of different tribes so they can hear the Bible in a way they understand.  Oliver and Lily were so excited about the "missionary robots" and the fact that they raised over $130!!!

Memorial Day evening, we went to the Bethel College trail to "climb trees" and play in the creek.  The kids LOVE this place, and Oliver was really hoping to find a Cottonwood to climb.  :-)  

(posing for mom)

(the more accurate picture)

"Take my picture, Mom!"

So far, we are off to a good start.  Last weekend we dealt with a few tantrums, and I threw a few of my own two days ago...but I think we're all settling in.  Next week, Vacation Bible School starts, and my kids are SOOO excited about it! 

Last Days of School

Last week we celebrated the last day of school for both Lily and Oliver.  We OF COURSE were excited for summer, but were so sad to see WONDERFUL school years end!  

Lily said goodbye to Ms. Karri, her wonderful preschool teacher.  Preschool was JUST the thing Lily needed this year.  She is so incredibly independent, and it was great for her to have her own "thing" to do during the week.  Even though it was only 2 afternoons a week, she LOVED it.  

 Oliver had an amazing kindergarten year with Mrs. Roux.  We have been blown away by the good things that happen at Walton Rural Life Center.  Not only are they learning so much, they're doing it by working with animals, doing chores, selling lip balm (among other things), and creating projects that showcase their learning.  He also made wonderful friends that he is already missing! We are excited for first grade but will miss Mrs. Roux so much!!!  He mentioned several times, "Mrs. Roux is the best teacher in the WORLD!!!!!"  

And now, we are fully ready to celebrate SUMMER!!!!

Brahm {18 months}

Brahm celebrated 18 months in May!  We didn't make a big deal about it, but did sing "Happy Half-Birthday to You!" at supper that night, and he just stared at us with a very confused look while we did it....I think he may not be a huge fan of that song....judging by the fit that ensued at his one year birthday party...

Anyway, we are celebrating the FUNNY little guy is becoming!  Although he took a while to start talking, he has definitely caught up and doesn't stop talking.  "momma?  Dadda?  Ow-wa-wuh?"  All day long.  People always told us that #2 would be quiet, since Oliver was such a talker, and that didn't happen.  Surely, #3 will be quiet? we wondered.  Nope.  But it's good.  Loud, but good.  

At 18 months, Brahm loves...

*Balls.
*Going on walks.
*Looking at, and chasing, birds.  
*Doggies.


*Milk and juice.  
*Oliver.
*Bathtime, "wa-wa" outside, and running through the sprinkler ANY chance he can get.

Brahm doesn't so much like me singing.  ("NO NO NO!" he yells)
Brahm doesn't love Lily mothering him.  
Brahm doesn't like going inside....

Speaking of me singing.....Brahm sings Justin Bieber.  "Bebe OH!  Bebe OH!!!"  And he sings "Bob the Builder", and "My God is so BIG!"  (Well, just the "big" part.)  

We say this every time we post about him, but he is just so funny.  SUCH a little character.  And I love seeing the 3 kids interact together.  That has been the best thing about 3--watching Oliver and Lily learn to play with and care for Brahm.  We are SO thankful for him!

                                            
                                             Lily reading to him out of a bird book...

                                                           
                                                              Taking care of babies.

                                                    Mowing.  Good form, huh???

Brahm has a CRAZY interest in tools.  Here he is helping Daddy build a platform for our pool...

Oliver teaching Brahm to drive his remote-control car...

He and Lily spend LOTS of their time chasing each other around the kitchen table...